High voltage electrode mounting

ABSTRACT

The high D.C. voltage electrode of a printing ink mist preventing system is mounted at a fixed distance from the peripheries of two printing ink carrying rollers contacting one another in the inking device of a printing machine unit. The structure for mounting the electrode comprise plugs on both ends which consist of an insulating material; the plugs can conveniently be inserted in sockets made also of insulating material. The sockets are provided only in holes drilled in one of the printing machine unit side frames and have spring-loaded insulating receptacles slidably for the plugs on one end of the electrodes. Retaining and orienting receptacles are provided on the inside of the other one of the printing machine unit frames for receiving the other end of the electrodes. The cables for feeding the high voltage to the electrodes are inserted from the outside of the frames to the sockets to the electrical contact making parts of the spring-loaded receptacles.

United States Patent [1 1 Bruno et al.

[ 1 Sept. 23, 1975 HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRODE MOUNTING Inventors: Thomas P. Bruno, Philipsburg;

Benedict F. Finn, Union, both of Appl. No.: 530,868

[57] ABSTRACT The high DC, voltage electrode of a printing ink mist preventing system is mounted at a fixed distance from the peripheries of two printing ink carrying rollers contacting one another in the inking device of a printing machine unit. The structure for mounting the electrode comprise plugs on both ends which consist of an insulating material; the plugs can conveniently be inserted in sockets made also of insulating material. The sockets are provided only in holes drilled in one of the printing machine unit side frames and have springl lOl/4l6 R loaded insulating receptacles slidably for the plugs 0n [5 l] Int. Cl. B4lF 31/00 one end f the electrodes Retaining and orienting of Search ceptacles are provided on the inside of the other one 101/363, 364, 148; 118/639 of the printing machine unit frames for receiving the other end of the electrodes. The cables for feeding the References Cited high voltage to the electrodes are inserted from the UNITED STATES PATENTS outside of the frames to the sockets to the electrical 3,460,475 8H969 Brown at 1OH350 contact making parts of the spring-loaded receptacles. 3,515,064 6/l970 Vlier r l l r lOl/349 3,672,298 6/1972 Reif l l lOl/3SO 3,828,674 8/1974 Underwood lOl/349 Primary Examiner-J. Reed Fisher 7 Clalms 8 Drawmg Figures Attorney, Agent, or FirmDavid S. Woronoff 2517 f//// 2! t ,j/

' \x 5 4, /d a a a jf .1 JV /o US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 2 of4 3,906,856

Sheet 3 Sept. 23,1975

US Patent US Patent Sept. 23,1975

Sheet 4 of 4 HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRODE MOUNTING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to high voltage electrode mounting devices in general and particularly to insulated electrode mounting devices having movable spring-loaded electrical contacting elements therein in combination with the ink mist prevention devices in printing devices.

2. Description of the Prior Art The mounting of high voltage electrodes for the prevention of printing ink mist on the insides of the side frames of the units of rotary printing machines must provide for an appropriate insulation and spacing from grounded machine parts. To this extent electrodes or groups of electrodes had been mounted in the past on typical high-voltage insulators or on insulating shields or panels consisting of appropriate non-conducting material which are spaced apart from supporting frame constructions. The reason for this spacing is to prevent the high-voltage charge from arcing or short-circuiting. Groups of electrodes have been supported by insulating panels in arrangements in ink motions of printing units as illustrated and described in US. Pat. Nos. 3,460,475 and 3,515,064; but some problems remained with these kind of installations, particularly the problems of suffi cient available space for the support panels. of accessibility to adjacent machine elements, such as printing ink roller sockets which have to be adjusted from time to time; of leading the voltage feed lines to the electrodes without risking the involuntary disruptions in the course of machine operations; and of the problem of occasional arcing from protruding screw heads in the narrow confinement of the available space.

The present invention is directed to solving of the problems as indicated above and to simplifying both the structure and the handling of the electrodes.

SUMMARY The invention consists in such novel features, construction arrangements, combination of parts and improvements as may be shown and described in connection with the device herein disclosed by way ofexample only and as illustrative of a preferred embodiment. The electrode of this invention consists basically ofa metal tube from which pointed voltage emitting members, such as nails, protrude, spaced apart in certain increments. The emitting nail points are set at such distance from the grounded peripheries of the nearest ink rollers of the ink motion as to provide a so-called electric wind of ionized air preventing the formation of an ink mist at the peripheries of the rollers and the ejecting of such ink mist into the ambient atmosphere. At both ends of the metal tube support plugs or studs are inserted into the tube and are firmly anchored therein by the emitters. The plugs consist ofa high-voltage insulating material and their length is dimensioned in such manner as to provide the safe distance between the ends of the metal tube and the supporting grounded machine frame. Locating and orienting holes are drilled in the frames of the printing machine unit at the proper locations in the vicinity of the nip between the respective ink rollers for insertion of an insulating socket in one frame and for direct insertion of the electrode plug into the other frame. The socket has a resilient receptacle for the plug of the electrode, and the voltage feed line leads through the hole in the frame into the socket so that contacting means on the receptacle can safely make contact with the corresponding contact of the plug.

An important part of the invention is the spacesaving mounting structure by which separate mounting panels are entirely eliminated; a safer operation of the electrode is provided, and a far better and easier handling of the electrode is achieved; especially during the operation of taking out an individual electrode for cleaning, and for facilitating the removing of an ink roller whenever that becomes necessary for maintenance or regrinding purposes.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereafter and in part will be obvious herefrom or may be learned by practicing the invention the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved mounting ofa high voltage electrode in a printing ink mist prevention system, extending between the side frames in the ink motion section of a printing unit of a high speed rotary printing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide electrically insulating plugs at the end of the electrode for mounting the latter between the side frames of the printing unit at safe distances from the former without the need for intermediate insulating support panels.

A further object of the invention is to provide an insulating socket in a bore of one of the side frames of the printing unit for receiving the electrical contact end of the corresponding insulating plug of the electrode.

Furthermore it is an object of the invention to provide a resiliently yielding insulated receptacle in the insulating socket for receiving the electrical contact end of the insulating plug of the electrode.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide structure for leading the insulated high voltage feed cable directly through the frame wall into the insulated socket for the electrode.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved mounting of the electrode which consists of a minimum of parts, can be manufactured easily and economically and is disposed to be installed in the most simple yet safe manner between the side frames of the printing unit, which mounting at the same time permits to take the electrode out, without the use of any tools, for cleaning and maintenance purposes.

Various further and more specific purposes, features and advantages will clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of the specification and illustrates merely by way of example one embodiment of the device of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the following description and in the claims, parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but such names are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit. Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawing, in which FIG. I shows in perspective the front view of a printing machine with the electrodes in their places adjacent ink rollers;

F IG. 2 shows a part of a typical ink motion section of a printing unit and the location of the electrodes therein;

FIG. 3 shows in perspective the electrode with the end plugs and with the mounting socket in the wall of one of the side frames of the printing unit;

FIG. 4 shows in a larger scale the axial section of one of the mounting sockets.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a part of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows the other end of the mounting socket.

FIG. 7 shows an end view of the socket in FlG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows the detail of one of the receptacles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in more detail to the drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment by which the invention may be realized, there is in FIG. 1 the front view of a typical printing unit of a rotary printing machine with the guard 10 opened so that the inking rollers 11 and 12 can be seen. The electrodes 13, 14, 15 are extending between the side frames 16, 17 along the rollers 11 and 12, respectively, and are mounted on the insulating end of the plugs 18, 19 at frames 16, 17 respectively.

Electrodes 13, 14, 15 have a metal tube, preferably aluminum. with pointed members or emitters such as nails, 20 extending radially from the wall of the tubes and axially spaced apart from one another at given increments so that the pointed ends of the emitters 20 protrude from the tube at a certain predetermined spacing. Plugs 18, 19 are formed of a dielectric material such as nylon or the like, and are inserted at the ends of tubes 13, 14, 15 and are firmly anchored therein by some of the emitters 20. The length of plugs 18, 19 are determined in part by the voltage carried by the electrodes so that arcing between the ends and the side frames 16, 17 are safely avoided. Plug or first end 18 has an end 18 of a reduced diameter (so that it can easily be inserted in a hollow socket 21) and has an axial bore 22 leading from the end to a recess 23 on the periphery or out circumference l8 of the first end. A first conductor 24 is inserted in bore 22 and a second conductor 24" having an end 25 is soldered at the inner end of conductor 24, which is properly formed to fit into recess 23 for providing a solid electrical contact with tube 13, 14 or 15 as the case may be. Conductor 24 has a contact head 25 at the outside end of plug 18 (FIG. 5).

Hollow socket or third end 21 as shown in FIG. 4 consists of a dielectric material such as nylon or the like and is freely inserted with an ample diameter tolerance into a channel 26 drilled into the inside wall of side frame 16. In order to hold socket 21 firmly in place, a sealing ring 27 made of rubber or the like resilient material is inserted in a groove 28 near the front end or socket or third end 21. The opening 29 in the front end of socket 21 is flared out by ramp surface 29a for making it possible to insert electrode 13, 14, 15 with plug 18 affixed to it by angling. One end of socket 21 is closed by a leakproof bonded-in insert 30 through which the high DC. voltage feeding cable 31 is led from the outside of side frame 16 through a drilled hole 32. A first metal plate 33 is soldered at the end of cable 31, and it is held in place against insert 30 by a helical spring 33. Spring 33 abuts against a second metal plate 34 which is riveted by a center rivet 35 on the contact plug 36 which consists also of dielectric material.

whereas the conductive head 37 of rivet 35 is disposed for making the electric contact with contact head 25 of second conductor or pin 24 of electrode 13, l4, 15 when the latter is inserted into socket 21 whereby spring 33 is compressed for insuring a good contact between heads 25 and 37.

Fourth end or end plug 19 has an end 19 with a reduced diameter which fits into a blind aperture or second end 38 on the inside wall of side frame 17. A collar 39 (has an arm 39a) is pinned on reduced end 19' and has a locating pin 40 which fits into an orienting channel 41 on the side frame wall. Electrodes l3, 14, 15 will thus always can be correctly put in place between side frames 16, 17 so that the points of nails 20 are positioned in the right relationship to the respective nips of rollers 11, 12 and ink drums 42, 43 44.

The mounting of each one of electrodes 13, 14, 15 is performed in the following very simple manner.

The electrode 13, 14, 15 is inserted into the third end or socket 21 in an angular way which is possible due to the flared-out front end 290 of opening 29. By pushing the electrode with its first end 18 against the springloaded contact element 36 in the socket the fourth end or plug 19 of the electrode gets enough clearance from the side frame 17 so that the reduced end 19 can be inserted into the aperture 38. The electrode can now be slightly rotated until the locating pin 40 of the collar 39 is set in the orienting channel 41. The spring 33 in the socket 21 is now free to push the electrode into its safe final position until the collar 39 abuts against the inside wall of the side frame 17. It is obvious that the electrode can be just as easily taken out when necessary.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a certain preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the principle of the invention, that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as covered by the appended claims.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. An electrode having a body in a printing ink mist prevention system of a printing unit of a high-speed rotary printing machine. said unit having ink rollers and side frames supporting said electrode and said ink rollers, comprising:

A. First and fourth end members axially extending from both ends of said electrode, said end members formed substantially of a dielectric material, said end members having diameters. said electrode having plural electrically conductive emitters axially spaced therealong with each emitter extending outwardly from said electrode;

B. Said first end member having an axially extending bore disposed to receive an electrical conducting means for feeding electricity to said electrode.

C. A hollow socket member in one of said side frames having a third end member having a closed end. said socket formed substantially of a dielectric material; an axially slidable contact member in said socket; said contact member formed substantially of a dielectric material and having electric contact means fixed therein, and a spring member disposed in said socket biased to hold said contact member in place; a second end member in the other of said side frames having a front recess for receiving said first end member; and

D. A cable member axially inserted into said socket member through said closed end, said cable being disposed to feed electricity to said electric contact means in said contact member.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said hollow socket member has a flared-out front end.

3. The device according to claim 1: wherein, said electric contact means in said slidable contact plug is disposed to provide an electrical contact with said electrical conducting means upon insertion of said end plug into said socket.

4. The device according to claim 2: wherein, one of said frames of said printing unit has a bore disposed to receive said hollow socket therein.

5. The device according to claim 4: wherein the other one of said frames of said printing unit having a second end member disposed to receive said reduced end of said fourth end member, and a collar fixedly attached to said reduced end of said fourth end member and a locating pin on said collar disposed for setting said electrode in correct relation to said ink rollers.

6. The device according to claim 5 wherein some of said emitters fixedly connect said first end member dielectric material to said electrode body.

7. The device claimed in claim 6 wherein some of said emitters fixedly connect said fourth end member dielectric material to said electrode body.

* k IF 

1. An electrode having a body in a printing ink mist prevention system of a printing unit of a high-speed rotary printing machine, said unit having ink rollers and side frames supporting said electrode and said ink rollers, comprising: A. First and fourth end members axially extending from both ends of said electrode, said end members formed substantially of a dielectric material, said end members having diameters, said electrode having plural electrically conductive emitters axially spaced therealong with each emitter extending outwardly from said electrode; B. Said first end member having an axially extending bore disposed to receive an electrical conducting means for feeding electricity to said electrode, C. A hollow socket member in one of said side frames having a third end member having a closed end, said socket formed substantially of a dielectric material; an axially slidable contact member in said socket; said contact member formed substantially of a dielectric material and having electric contact means fixed therein, and a spring member disposed in said socket biased to hold said contact member in place; a second end member in the other of said side frames having a front recess for receiving said first end member; and D. A cable member axially inserted into said socket member through said closed end, said cable being disposed to feed electricity to said electric contact means in said contact member.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said hollow socket member has a flared-out front end.
 3. The device according to claim 1: wherein, said electric contact means in said slidable contact plug is disposed to provide an electrical contact with said electrical conducting means upon insertion of said end plug into said socket.
 4. The device according to claim 2: wherein, one of said frames of said printing unit has a bore disposed to receive said hollow socket therein.
 5. The device according to claim 4: wherein the other one of said frames of said printing unit having a second end member disposed to receive said reduced end of said fourth end member, and a collar fixedly attached to said reduced end of said fourth end member and a locating pin on sAid collar disposed for setting said electrode in correct relation to said ink rollers.
 6. The device according to claim 5 wherein some of said emitters fixedly connect said first end member dielectric material to said electrode body.
 7. The device claimed in claim 6 wherein some of said emitters fixedly connect said fourth end member dielectric material to said electrode body. 